A new chapter in the history of Raith Rovers has begun after a local consortium including former Kelty Hearts chief Dean Mckenzie bought a controlling stake in the club.
The new regime – which also includes current chairman Steven MacDonald – takes ownership from John Sim following “an extensive period of due diligence on both sides of the agreement”.
Rovers called it “a watershed moment” for the Stark’s Park outfit.
But who are the men behind the takeover promising to ensure the Fife club is the beating heart of the community?
Dean Mckenzie
Widely credited as the engine behind Kelty Hearts rise from Lowland League to League One, Mckenzie will now seek to improve the fortunes of another Fife club.
The 43-year-old served as managing director of the Maroon Machine.
His vision for the club – and financial backing – helped tempt bosses Barry Ferguson and Kevin Thomson to New Central Park, as well as established senior talent such as Joe Cardle, Michael Tidser and Kallum Higginbotham.
Mckenzie is a well-established local business figure and entrepreneur, running The Converters Group Ltd – which includes Kelty Hearts’ shirt sponsor The Conservatory Converters – and The Soccer Shop:Direct.
The former Beath High School pupil also works in the property and food sectors.
Colin Smart
A lifelong Rovers fan who has attended Stark’s Park for more than five decades, Smart joined the board as a director in June 2022.
He is the owner of The Dean Park, a hotel in Kirkcaldy which became Raith’s principle shirt sponsor following Val McDermid and TAG Games pulling their support in the wake of the David Goodwillie saga.
Smart, 70, and his wife Margaret also founded Kingdom Homes, a residential care provider, before stepping away from the business last year.
Upon his appointment as a director, a statement released on behalf of the Raith hierarchy described him as “a successful businessman who brings extensive experience to the board”.
On Friday, he said: “I am really excited about being part of the future journey for our football club.
“Having been a supporter for over 60 years I have seen many highs and lows, but I feel 2023 is a new beginning for our football club”.
Ruaridh Kilgour
The local businessman, 30, will bring digital marking expertise to Rovers.
He’s the owner of the Scottish Patter Twitter account and during the Covid pandemic helped more than 100 clubs raise hundreds of thousands of pounds through his Donate a Ticket scheme.
In November 2020, he told the BBC: “I was the youngest ever shareholder at Raith Rovers when my parents bought me shares for my 15th birthday.
Today is the proudest day of my life taking on the challenge of running Raith Rovers Football Club alongside a group of very talented and motivated individuals.
(1/3) pic.twitter.com/lxRlrcBIXt
— Ruaridh Kilgour (@RuaridhKilgour) May 5, 2023
“Since then I have always volunteered to help with the club and I think this is why they trusted me to sign the club up for Donate a Ticket.”
Writing on Twitter after Friday’s announcement, he said: “Today is the proudest day of my life taking on the challenge of running Raith Rovers Football Club alongside a group of very talented and motivated individuals.
“I’ve sold programmes, been a ball boy and helped out in various other capacities as a volunteer throughout my life, so to have the opportunity to bring positive change at board level is incredibly exciting.
“Thanks for all the messages of support, If you know me, you know I will do everything I can to bring success to the club.”
Andrew Barrowman
The former Dunfermline, Ross County and Livingston striker Barrowman, 38, will oversee football and commercial operations.
He hung up his boots in the summer of 2018 and worked as a brand manager for sportswear firm Joma UK before becoming sporting director at Kelty Hearts.
Ex-Kelty boss John Potter – who was Jack Ross’ No 2 at Hibs – is likely to take on the role of director of football at Raith following the regime change.
Maroon Machine duo Jamie Barjonas and Alfredo Agyeman are top of Rovers’ transfer shortlist.
Steven MacDonald
He replaced John Sim as chairman in April having joined the board in February 2019 after a lifetime following the club.
The owner of Kirkcaldy-based electrical wholesalers SM Electrical Supplies Ltd has been involved in Fife football for decades as a former director and chairman of Thornton Hibs and, later, Glenrothes Juniors.
Upon joining the board, MacDonald, 63, said that after building his business over the previous 31 years, he looked forward to bringing his “vision, a determination to succeed and a never-say-die attitude” to the club.
He was a member of the board that presided over the disastrous deal to sign rapist striker Goodwillie last January.
Allan Halliday
The 50-year-old – who works for Fife Council and also owns two takeaway businesses in Kirkcaldy – was appointed football operations manager at Raith in November.
He served as general manager at Dundonald Bluebell for 11 years before joining the Fife outfit.
Steven MacDonald said: “Allan is a football man, well known in the game and with great experience built up going back to Glenrothes Juniors when I first got to know him.
“I’ve known Allan for many years and look forward to working with him at Stark’s Park.”
Conversation